Chelsea complete Matic signing

ESPN staff

January 15, 2014

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Chelsea have completed the re-signing of midfielder Nemanja Matic from Benfica for a fee of £20.8 million.

The 26-year-old Serbia international played for the Blues from 2009 to 2011 before leaving for Benfica as part of the deal that took David Luiz to Stamford Bridge, but he had announced earlier this week that he was leaving Lisbon in favour of a return to West London.

Matic completed a medical on Wednesday before putting pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year contract.

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Matic told Chelsea's official website: "I am very happy for this opportunity to be back at this club. I feel very good because of that and just want to say I will give my best to help the team and make the Chelsea fans happy."

Jose Mourinho added: "I am very pleased that Nemanja is returning to Chelsea. He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder. I am sure he will become a very important member of the squad and help us to achieve our ambitions."

Benfica confirmed the €25 million fee in a statement on their official website.